National Human Rights Commission confiscates 12.7 billion won of government subsidies embezzled for 127 billion won
Check on illegal receipt of vouchers…about 28,000 cases since 2020
Operates ‘intensive reporting period’ until the end of July, offering up to 3 billion won rewards,
The National Human Rights Commission announced on the 12th that it had confiscated 12.7 billion won of government subsidies embezzled by government-supported associations and companies, exposing those who unfairly wasted budget. A Association, which received a project entrusted by the Ministry of Environment, embezzled about 39 billion won in government subsidies from 2016 to 2022. [Illustration=Provided by the National Human Rights Commission],
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, ‘[Herald Economy=Reporter Shin Dae-won] It has been revealed that government subsidies, including grants, compensation, investments, and gift funds provided through public finances, are being recklessly operated.’,
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, ‘The National Human Rights Commission announced on the 12th that it had confiscated 12.7 billion won of government subsidies embezzled by government-supported associations and companies, exposing those who unfairly wasted budget.’,
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, ‘According to the National Human Rights Commission, A Association, which performs projects entrusted by the Ministry of Environment, embezzled about 39 billion won in government subsidies from 2016 to 2022.’,
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, ‘First, A Association embezzled over 27 billion won by paying excessive personnel expenses to its employees and then reclaiming the amount exceeding the monthly salaries to a separate account.’,
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, ‘Although the association’s internal document clearly stated “return the additional money paid” on the employees’ payroll, the supervisory authority failed to notice it.’,
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, ‘A Association also falsely registered 64 employees as participants in the project from 2018 to 2022, improperly pocketing about 11.8 billion won in personnel expenses.’,
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, ‘In particular, the vice chairman of A Association involved in embezzlement of personnel expenses was revealed to be a former high-ranking government official of the supervisory authority.’,
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, ‘It was like entrusting fish to a cat. Six individuals, including the vice chairman, were disciplined.’,
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, ‘In the case of Company B, they embezzled 34 billion won in research and development expenses by inflating prices of goods or issuing false tax invoices for goods not actually purchased.’,
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, ‘The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy took measures to confiscate a total of 98 billion won, including the research and development expenses embezzled by Company B and surcharges of 64 billion won, and the director leading this was sentenced to three years in prison with a four-year suspension.’,
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, ‘In addition, there were loopholes in voucher service operations.’,
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, ‘The National Human Rights Commission identified about 28,000 cases of illegal voucher receipt related to vouchers since 2020 through an investigation into voucher service utilization conducted in areas vulnerable to illegal receipt from October last year to April this year.’,
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, ‘It was also revealed that 64 local governments did not levy surcharges totaling 22.2 billion won.’,
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, ‘The National Human Rights Commission recommended imposing surcharges on the relevant local governments.’,
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, ‘Among the organizations with inadequate sanctions, Gyeonggi Province had the highest number of cases and amounts with 34 cases and 7.5 billion won, followed by Jeollanam-do with 3 cases and 2.46 billion won, Chungcheongnam-do with 19 cases and 2.23 billion won, Busan with 11 cases and 1.8 billion won, and Seoul with 11 cases and 1.4 billion won.’,
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, ‘By business type, activities supporting people with disabilities accounted for the majority with 77 cases and 15.1 billion won, followed by local community service investment with 37 cases and 6 billion won, and services for day activities for the developmentally disabled with 3 cases and 200 million won.’,
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, ‘Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission has been operating an intensive reporting period from May to the end of July to prevent illegal receipt of government subsidies.’,
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, ‘Whistleblowers receive protection of identity and confidentiality from the reporting acceptance stage, and depending on the contribution made by reporting, they can receive up to 3 billion won in reward money if there is a direct recovery of public agency income.’,
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, ‘Kwon Seung-yoon, Vice Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission and Secretary-General, stated, “National funds are taxpayers’ money, so not a penny should be wasted,” and promised, “To eradicate illegal receipt behaviors, we will activate reporting and focus on checking areas where illegal receipts are rampant such as research and development expenses”.’